Inspire Wellbeing - Time to Talk Day

Our mental health matters, and by talking about it, we can better support ourselves and others. Around one in five adults in Northern Ireland have a probable mental health problem (a rate which is 25% higher than in England). 

The focus of Time to Talk Day is to break the stigma surrounding mental health and remind everyone that simply taking the time to connect, to engage in conversation, not to be afraid to share, and to ask questions, can make a huge difference. 

How can you do this? 

• Start the conversation – take time to check in with friends, family, or colleagues. Ask how they’re feeling and create a safe space for them to open up. 
• Arrange a coffee date – invite a friend for a cuppa and a catch up, or organise a teams meet up. 
• Create a safe space - practice active listening without judgement when others share their thoughts, if conformable share your own experiences with mental health to normalise the topic.
• Use the day for self-reflection – take time to reflect on your own mental health and to identify actions you can take to improve your wellbeing. 

To mark Time to Talk Day, the Lena Support Hub from Inspire Wellbeing, the colleges Employee Assistance programme, is delivering a 1-hour webinar, which aims to help you look after your mental health. The webinar will take place on Friday 7 February from 12pm to 1pm. Click here for more information.  

Support is also available from the college’s Mental Health First Aiders who can be contacted via MS Teams and will provide support to staff who are developing mental health problems or may be in a mental health crisis - click here for more information. 

The Lena Support Hub has recorded a new detailed and informative session to outline the counselling services and support available to staff - to access, click here. 

To find out more about the support services offered by the college and how staff look after their mental health, click here.